And away we go! We’ve seen some fantastic sweater materials go out the door, and we’re excited to hear how it’s going for you. I know it was such a beautiful weekend that it was tough to want to stay indoors, but perhaps you got to find some quiet place outside to knit? Sounds pretty delightful, doesn’t it?

This week, I thought it would be useful to go over some tips and tricks for starting a sweater. As with all sweaters, gauge really does matter. For some knitted items it’s not a huge deal (a half inch wider scarf is still a lovely scarf), but a sweater that’s 3-4″ bigger (or smaller) than expected is a problem. For this tee, you need to test your gauge on both the pattern and stockinette. You will ultimately be knitting both the pattern and stockinette in each row, so you do need to be getting gauge (or almost exactly gauge) in both. The pattern calls for 21 stitches and 28 rows per 4″ in stockinette and 22 stitches and 28 rows in diagonal rib pattern. General swatch instructions are below, written out for stockinette. To test your gauge in pattern, start with the same cast on and garter set up, then knit either the right or left diagonal rib for four inches, and conclude in garter.

Here are general swatch instructions, should you need them:
On the 3.5 mm (US#4) needle, cast on 30 sts. Knit 4 rows of garter stitch (knit every row).
Row 5: Knit all stitches
Row 6: K2, purl to last 2 sts, K2
Repeat last two rows for four inches.
Knit 3 rows of garter stitch. Bind off knitwise.

BLOCK your swatch. I like to put mine in a little bowl of water and let it soak for an hour or so. Then I put it into a towel and push out the excess water. Then lay it flat to dry.

Count the number of stitches you get in four inches.

Target Gauge:
21 sts x 28 rows = 10 x 10 cm 4 x 4 in in Stockinette stitch on larger needle, adjust needle size if necessary to get correct gauge.

If you count more than 21 sts, you are knitting too tightly. Go up a needle size and swatch again. If you get less than 21 sts, you are knitting too loosely. Go down a needle size and swatch again.

A quick pro tip on finessing gauge: the needle material does impact your gauge. Basically, the stickier the needle the looser the gauge. Bamboo is going to give you the most resistance, while slippery steel needles will make each stitch ever so slightly smaller. So, if changing needle size doesn’t resolve your gauge, try switching up the type of needle you’re using.

When it comes to knitting the body of the sweater, you are still knitting a 3×3 rib. In a diagonal rib, the pattern shifts one stitch over on each right side row. For the right diagonal rib, the pattern moves one stitch to the right on each right side (odd numbered) row. For the left diagonal rib, it moves to the left. In both versions, you simply knit the knits and purl the purls on every wrong side row.

Remember, you can always come by the help bar with any questions you may have. It’s open whenever the shop’s open. And don’t forget to share your progress on the Ravelry board or on Instagram with the hashtag #fsAprilKnitalong.

Happy stitching!